Hello, I’m Sofia, I’m 22 and I come from Florence, Italy.
This is only my second time volunteering, my first was a short experience in my home country, so the scale now is much bigger (and scarier). Since taking a break from university I felt like I really needed an adventure, but this isn’t all that this project is to me. I really hope I can help these people and I really want to do something meaningful.
As I’m starting to write this article (knowing myself I’m sure I will come back multiple times before I’ll feel that this is good enough) I’ve only begun my second day (the first was spent mainly in the airport), so as of right now that I’m here writing I’m afraid that I don’t have yet much material I can work with, and I don’t want to bore you with the details of how I almost lost my flight (because of the stupid trains in Italy).
In taking this challenge my worries are mainly about my ability to approach and befriend others, since it always takes me some time to get to know my surroundings and starting to feel comfortable in them, and I know that some might think “why would you do something that you know it’s going to be so out of your comfort zone?”. I guess if I never push myself hard I will never change anything and what’s better than diving head first to improve rapidly.
As far as how my second day is going I would say pretty good: the sun is shining, the weather is good and the neighborhood very lively as I’m heading to my first Portuguese lesson. The school is full of life since they’re celebrating their 38th anniversary, so I got the chance to taste Moscatel and delicious pastries, like pasteis de nata, which I am a big fan of.
And now I’m here observing from outside the activity planned for today and it’s really reminding me of how my grandparents approach technology. And in a way I already feel nostalgic. But let me stop here before it gets depressing.
Well this is it for now, see you in the next update.
From an excited yet really nervous,
Sofia
